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Promoting the Domain Controller

This step will promote the new replacement computer to become a second Domain Controller (DC).

Promote the computer to be a Domain Controller

Before you can migrate AD, you need to first promote the new computer (or VM) to become a second Domain Controller (DC) for the domain.

  1. Run Server Manager.
  2. If you have not already done so, install the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role. (Note: This step only installs the necessary executable files and templates for later use. It does not actually promote the computer.)
  3. Click on AD DS (left).
  4. Find Configuration required for Active Directory Domain Services and click on More.. (right).
  5. In the popup window find Configuration required for Active Directory Domain Services and click on Promote this server to a domain controller. This will launch the Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard.
  6. In the Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard, select Add a domain controller to an existing domain.
  7. Type in the domain name as indicated by U-Move.
  8. Click on Change.. to supply the domain logon user name and password.
  9. Click on Install. The computer will reboot.

Note: When you supply the domain logon user name, you must include the domain name as a prefix. For example, use MyDomain\Administrator, where MyDomain is the name of the domain.

Alternative Method: You can promote the DC using the PowerShell console. The PowerShell cmdlets are named Install-ADDSForest, Install-ADDSDomain, and Install-ADDSDomainController. These cmdlets replace Dcpromo.exe.


Promoting the computer to be a DC on Server 2008 (and R2)
  1. Run Server Manager.
  2. If you have not already done so, install the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role. (Note: This step only installs the necessary executable files and templates for later use. It does not actually promote the computer.)
  3. Scroll down to Advanced Tools -> AD DS Tools. Click on Dcpromo.exe (right)
  4. Select Existing forest -> Add a domain controller to an existing domain. Click Next.
  5. When prompted, type in the domain name as indicated by U-Move.
  6. Click on Set.. to supply the domain logon user name and password.The logon account must have administrative privileges for the domain.
  7. Click Next.
  8. Click Finish. The computer will reboot.

Note: When you supply the domain logon user name, you must include the domain name as a prefix. For example, use MyDomain\Administrator, where MyDomain is the name of the domain.